Logan Square 9-Year-Old Isayah Tapia Needs Living Kidney Donor

By creator to blockclubchicago.org

LOGAN SQUARE — A Logan Sq. household is trying to find a residing kidney donor for his or her 9-year-old, Isayah, who skilled a significant setback final yr in his battle with a uncommon kidney dysfunction.

“I simply need my youngster to have a greater life,” Isayah’s mother, Aly Tapia, mentioned. “I don’t need my youngster to proceed going by means of the entire stuff he’s going by means of. I would like him to stay higher. I would like him truly to have the ability to be a baby.”

Isayah was born with congenital nephrotic syndrome and has been out and in of the hospital his entire life. In 2019, he obtained a kidney transplant from a deceased donor, which appeared to drastically enhance his situation.

“For eight months, all the things was good. No rejection. Nothing,” Tapia mentioned.

However the boy’s physique rejected the transplant in Might after he developed herpes simplex virus, and he’s struggled since, Tapia mentioned. His medical doctors mentioned he wants a kidney transplant from a residing donor to have a shot at getting higher, she mentioned.

Isayah Tapia together with his father, Joel, in Logan Sq..

Tapia and her husband, Joel, have been desperately trying to find a donor for months; they raised greater than $8,000 by means of a crowdfunding campaign and used the cash to put in billboards throughout the town.

Regardless of these efforts, a donor has not materialized, so the search continues. Tapia mentioned she’s wanting into putting in extra billboards as a result of the opposite billboards had been solely up throughout July.

It solely takes one donor to vastly enhance Isayah’s life, Tapia mentioned.

When Isayah’s not on the hospital, he likes to play video video games, acquire panda memorabilia and spend time together with his youthful brother, Kaiden, Tapia mentioned.

The 9-year-old has struggled to make buddies and typically isolates himself, Tapia mentioned, however he all the time has a sunny disposition.

“It doesn’t matter how a lot he goes by means of, he’s all the time obtained a smile on his face,” she mentioned.

Tapia mentioned his optimistic outlook motivates her to push ahead on darkish days. Discovering a donor can be a “great blessing” for him — and their household, she mentioned.

“It’s been 9 lengthy years my boy has been coping with hospitals. I nearly misplaced my son twice, and it’s nearly that point he’s in a position to truly take pleasure in his childhood,” she mentioned.

To search out out in case you’re a match with Isayah, contact the Lurie Youngsters’s Hospital at 312-227-6551.